McLellan shares injury updates as Red Wings get set for home portion of 2026-27 preseason schedule

DETROIT – Although he wasn’t on a regular line, Dylan Larkin, who is currently dealing with an upper-body injury, skated with the Detroit Red Wings for the first time this fall at BELFOR Training Center inside Little Caesars Arena on Wednesday afternoon.

“He’s been able to progress enough off the ice and in the weight room,” Red Wings head coach Todd McLellan said of Larkin. “Trainers feel good to let him go. He stayed out for the whole practice. I thought it was going to be portion of it. Progress, good progress.”

Detroit will conclude its four-game 2026-27 preseason schedule at Little Caesars Arena this week, hosting the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night and the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday night. McLellan confirmed Larkin would be unavailable against the Sabres but didn't rule out the 30-year-old for when the Blue Jackets come to town.

“There’s a chance, but we got to be smart with it,” McLellan said. “There’s a chance. I don’t know what the odds are, but there’s a chance.”

McLellan also provided updates on a few other players managing various injuries.

“Carter Bear has an upper-body injury, probably day-to-day or a week is what we think,” McLellan said. “Obviously, Larkin is still hurt. (Chase) Stillman, who came into Training Camp with an offseason injury, still hasn’t been cleared. He’s been able to go out and practice, but he’s short on contact. And then the rest of the group, bumps and bruises as you’d know coming after a week of Camp and a few games, but no other injuries.”

Lucas Raymond was encouraged to see Larkin — who recorded his fifth consecutive 30-goal season in 2025-26 (34 goals, 33 assists in 74 games) — back on the ice with the rest of the team.

“It’s fun,” Raymond said. “Obviously, he’s been dealing with a little bit of an injury to start Camp, but it’s fun to see him out there and see him skating with us.”

Since the start of Training Camp, Raymond has been skating on Detroit’s top line with Alex DeBrincat and Andrew Copp – not an entirely new trio, but one he sees as continuing to gel with plenty of upside ahead.

“It’s been good,” Raymond said. “Both Copper and Cat are two really good players. I’ve played with both in shorter stretches before, but I think we find each other pretty good. We’ll keep building. Looking forward to the first game and getting out there.”

Last season, Raymond ranked first on the Red Wings in assists (51), second in points (76) and third in goals (25). That said, statistics aren’t really on his mind as he prepares for his fifth campaign in Detroit.

“You set goals coming into a year,” Raymond said. “I think usually maybe not so much stat-based but maybe play-wise and what you want to get out of games. I think you look at shots, that’s one of those things – trying to increase the shots – that’ll lead to more goals as well.”

Raymond believes Detroit’s offense this season will come from “out of who we have right now and a lot of leaders stepping up as well.”

“I think so far in Camp, it’s been really good intensity, high pace,” he said. “Guys are really working hard, so really good so far and looking forward to getting going.”